Published: Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 03:38 PM.

Photo Galleries

Holidays often filled with food, fun and fanfare brought death, damage and devastation for one local family this season. The latest tragedy that’s befallen the Roland family happened on New Year’s Eve when their house caught fire.

The Mount Holly couple and their two children were watching TV when they heard something. “We started hearing popping noises so we thought it was fireworks outside for New Year’s,” said Amanda Roland.

The popping got louder so Roland’s husband, Donnie Roland, went outside to investigate. He didn’t see anyone shooting off fireworks, so Roland turned to go back inside. That’s when he saw smoke coming from the roof of his house. “He came in screaming, ‘Get out. The house is on fire,’” Amanda Roland said.

The couple managed to shuffle their two children and four dogs out unscathed. But their brick home was destroyed by fire, smoke and water. Now living out of a hotel room, Amanda Roland says she still feels fortunate. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, but we’re extremely blessed. That’s for sure,” she said.

Rough Thanksgiving: The Roland family was ready for the holidays, then 7-year-old Sophie Roland got sick. She missed a week of school because of a virus. Just as her daughter bounced back from sickness, Amanda Roland started to feel bad. She eventually ended up in the emergency room where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The mother of two spent days in bed, holding a temperature of 105 for three of them. “This was the first time in 36 years that I wasn’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family,” she said. Roland wasn’t admitted into the hospital, but she was loaded up with medications that put her back on her feet.

Demolition December: In early December the family was running errands in Amanda Roland’s Toyota Camry. They were stopped at an intersection when another car rammed into them, she said. The back end of her car was demolished. Sophie Roland was temporary trapped in the backseat. Her father was able to pull her out. The car was a total loss.

Holidays often filled with food, fun and fanfare brought death, damage and devastation for one local family this season. The latest tragedy that’s befallen the Roland family happened on New Year’s Eve when their house caught fire.

The Mount Holly couple and their two children were watching TV when they heard something. “We started hearing popping noises so we thought it was fireworks outside for New Year’s,” said Amanda Roland.

The popping got louder so Roland’s husband, Donnie Roland, went outside to investigate. He didn’t see anyone shooting off fireworks, so Roland turned to go back inside. That’s when he saw smoke coming from the roof of his house. “He came in screaming, ‘Get out. The house is on fire,’” Amanda Roland said.

The couple managed to shuffle their two children and four dogs out unscathed. But their brick home was destroyed by fire, smoke and water. Now living out of a hotel room, Amanda Roland says she still feels fortunate. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, but we’re extremely blessed. That’s for sure,” she said.

Rough Thanksgiving: The Roland family was ready for the holidays, then 7-year-old Sophie Roland got sick. She missed a week of school because of a virus. Just as her daughter bounced back from sickness, Amanda Roland started to feel bad. She eventually ended up in the emergency room where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The mother of two spent days in bed, holding a temperature of 105 for three of them. “This was the first time in 36 years that I wasn’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family,” she said. Roland wasn’t admitted into the hospital, but she was loaded up with medications that put her back on her feet.

Demolition December: In early December the family was running errands in Amanda Roland’s Toyota Camry. They were stopped at an intersection when another car rammed into them, she said. The back end of her car was demolished. Sophie Roland was temporary trapped in the backseat. Her father was able to pull her out. The car was a total loss.

Both Sophie Roland and her older brother, Blake, shied away from travel after the crash. “It was a pretty scary time for them. They were afraid to ride in the car for a while,” Amanda Roland said.

The hits just seemed to keep coming. Five days after the crash, Donnie Roland’s grandfather died. Then days later one of the family’s four dogs underwent surgery. They counted their blessings when the vet said Cain pulled through fine.

Taking its toll: On the final day of 2013, the Rolands watched their home burn. High school sweethearts, the couple moved into the house 14 years ago. The fire took its toll on the whole family. “I just went numb,” Amanda Roland said about watching her home burn.

The family has been living in a hotel room since the fire. Their dogs have been staying at their business, Roland Automotive in Charlotte. The children went back to school this week, but Amanda and Donnie Roland have not worked much. They’ve been busy meeting with insurance adjusters and investigators and trying to line up a new living situation.

A new year: Since the fire, the family’s experienced one more piece of bad news. Donnie Roland’s truck broke down. Luckily he’s a mechanic and it should be back on the road soon, Amanda Roland said. “We’re trying to laugh about things to keep from going insane,” she said. “It’s been tough but we’re survivors. We’ll get through it.”

Staff and students at the children’s school, Ida Rankin Elementary, have been extremely giving, she said. Administrators sent over gift cards, and one of her daughter’s teachers recently took the children shopping for toys. Neighbors and friends have given them clothing and gift cards for food. Roland said she remembers a neighbor bringing her bedroom shoes and a coat while she stood outside and watched firefighters extinguish the fire.

“The community has been so wonderful. It’s meant the world to us,” she said.

The couple is working with the insurance company to get a rental property lined up. Whether or not they’ll rebuild in their old neighborhood remains to be determined, she said. With a new year ahead, Amanda Roland said her family is optimistic that things can only get better. “I tell everybody that we sent 2013 up in flames. A new year means new opportunities,” she said.

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.

Want to help? Friends of the Roland family have started a website to collect donations. They’ve collected more than $2,000 so far. To make a donation, go to Fundly.com/support-the-rolands.